Personal behavior will take us far in life as well as in business. Doing unto others as we would have done unto us is a core principle of the Christian Faith and one well listened to. “As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved,” as Paul wrote in chapter three of Colossians, we should wake in gods light and let our light so shine before men, giving God the glory.

It will create success in our lives as well as in our businesses, teaching us the value of Christian Business Principles. One of the first things that Paul tells us to clothe ourselves in is compassion. Compassion is defiantly a personal virtue well worth attaining.

Having compassion on others shows wisdom and understanding and this is something that others will always see. It builds character within us and helps keep us on the write track.

Compassion’s core is in empathy and sympathy, standing with others in their time of need provides support and helps to lift burdens when people need it most.

The next thing Paul mentions is kindness and humility. Kindness is easy and works wonders, humility on the other hand is a bit more complex. Humility some would say is a quality of being modest, not arrogant, and not rude. I like to describe humility as lifting others up rather than focusing on bringing yourself down.

Modesty is defiantly a good trait to have and portray, but if we focus on lifting others up, modesty will come, and as we lift others up we will many times be solving some of our problems with out even knowing it.

Paul next writes that we should be meek and have patients. Check back for part two which will continue our discussion on being meek and having patients.

About the Author
Mark Harriman is a Christian husband and father of two. My team and I are teaching others how to absolutely create success online. Visit http://www.g10netprofits2.com for business tools and opportunities. Article Source

There is so much information on how a Christian can start an online business and how they can get started by taking advantage of Christian business opportunities. Information overload is often the very thing that keeps the newbie that is new to internet marketing from starting their own home business.

If you have been seeking information on the internet for a business opportunity for any amount of time, you most likely have come to the conclusion that there are a lot of opportunities to take advantage of. The internet is full of online business opportunities and it can be very overwhelming for a newbie. There are so many informative programs on the internet that say they can guide the average person into learning how to run a successful business through using their marketing plans.

If you’re a newbie to the internet, don’t wait until after you have spent a lot of money, only to discover that a lot of opportunities on the internet are scams. Scammers are popping up all over the internet. Take the time and do your homework, and make sure it is a legitimate business opportunity with a good marketing plan.

Have you ever seen those business opportunity websites with pictures of cars, boats and a lot of cash, it’s easy to get caught up in the moment of temptation.They say you are going to make an enormous amount of money over night. They even go as far as to say you don’t need any knowledge or understanding of internet marketing, they will take care of every thing for you. Don’t give them your hard earned money only to get nothing in return. There is no such thing as get rich quick programs.

To start an online business and be successful, it is going to take some time and patience, and you have to be willing to learn and work at it in order to make it a successful business. Success does not happen over night, its not the Christian way.

Starting and maintaining an online business means hard work and the ability to learn marketing. You can’t put up a website and just forget it; you need to promote your business to be successful, and this is going to take some effort on your part. The Internet is a powerful marketing tool, if used correctly, and you’re willing to work at it, you will find the reward well worth it.

If your plan was to do a search for Christian business opportunities to find some business ideas to start an online business and you don’t have a lot of money to work with, you will discover that an online business does not require a large amount of money. All you need is a website, a domain name and good way to promote it.

Today, in the world of the internet, we have a lot of options to choose from when it comes to opportunities and business ideas. To start an online business you must understand, you’re going to sell a product or provide a service that can be done online. Let us check out some business ideas for an online business.

1. You can create a digital product and make your knowledge sell. Write a book? A how-to guide? A saleable manual? Your good at cooking and have your recipes that you have been keeping all to yourself, you can create your own e-book to sell online.

Everybody has literally hundreds of starting points! What is it that you love to talk about? A hobby? Golf, fishing, hunting, and so forth? What do you do for fun and games? What do you do day after day, sewing, knitting, making quilts, rugs, without even thinking about it?

Take the time and think about what you tend to do in a typical day, and what you’ve learned from it. What sections of a book store or a magazine shop do you automatically gravitate toward? What kind of TV shows do you tend to like most? Movies? As you can see you have picked up a lot of experience and knowledge and yours is based on what you already know.

2. Start an online business using a drop ship supplier. All you would need is a wholesale supplier who will drop ship products that you want to sell in your internet store, a low cost web site and a merchant account. With an online store you have the opportunity to sell just about anything, computers, DVD movies, small kitchen appliances, jewelry, the list goes on. The wholesale supplier charges you a set price for the products and your profit is the difference between that price and the price you charge your customers in your online store. The wholesale supplier will drop ship the product to your customer with your company name on the package.

3. Start an online business with affiliate programs. There is a lot of companies with Christian business opportunities that try to encourage people to promote their products on their website, blog, or email. In return, the said company will pay you a certain percentage of every sale. You can make anywhere from 5% to 75% profit depending on what company you choose to sign up with.

4. Start your own online auction. If you are into auctions and thinking about starting an online career as an auction seller then you may want to check out eBay. There are millions of people making an income selling on eBay full or part time. You can use eBay to sell just about any item you think of, or you can create your own website. You can sell just about anything on eBay.

5. Start a Christian bookstore. With an online a book store you don’t have the hassles of stocking inventory or shipping and handling products. You will also discover in today’s economy that a lot of people find it convenient to do their shopping online. More and more elderly people are also finding it convenient to do their shopping online so they can enjoy the comfort of their home.

These are just some of the online business ideas for a newbie to keep in mind when you’re doing a search for Christian business opportunities. This will give you a better understanding of what to look for, and help you come up with some good ideas of your own.

Our Christian Site at http://www.christianideas.net helps Christians to start a online business that will enable them with the tools needed to succeed in spreading God’s Word. For more information check out our FREE educational tutorials for Christian Business opportunities. Article Source

I must admit that I am not always right. Of course, I did not understand the dynamics of this until after entering marital bliss. Sometimes it takes a major change in your life to awaken you to the truth. Although I may not always be right, I’m willing to “fess up” to it when somebody graciously points this out to me.

Fortunately, for me, the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage has made this the supreme priority of her life. And I must say, I am all the better for it. I, on the other hand, have made “fessing up,” the supreme priority of my life. This has made for a wonderful team.

Most people don’t know when they’re wrong. Nobody tells them about it so they just go their way in the wrong direction doing the wrong thing.

I take comfort in the unexpressed fact that I may not always be right, but then, on the other hand, I’m not always wrong either.

I didn’t fully understand how this affected me personally until an incident happened this past week. It’s funny how one little incident can bring your entire world into sharp perspective.

We were going out to a special occasion and just as we were ready to leave my wife turned to me and said, “You’re not going to wear that tie with that jacket, are you?”

I take pride in the fact that I can match a tie to a suit or sport jacket. I’ve been doing this all my life and at the time I was not in the mood having somebody adjust my clothing.

“There is nothing wrong with this tie,” I said rather smartly. When I him right, I am right and I don’t care who knows it.

“All I will say,” she said rather stiffly, “is that you will regret wearing that tie.”

There is nothing more sporting, at least in the husband’s frame of mind, than a good challenge. And, if I say so myself, I was up for it, which only goes to show how wrong a person can be.

I had just bought this tie a few weeks before and I was anxious to show it off to my friends that we were going to meet. And, being the sporting husband that I am, I said as much to her. “This is my favorite tie and I’m going to wear it tonight no matter what you say.”

And can I get all the brothers to give me a loud, “Amen,” for that. We in the brotherhood need to stick together and there’s no thicker brotherhood than husbands.

She gave me one of her looks and then said, “Do what you want to do, but I’m just warning you.”

I might mention that my tie was a nice bright golden was so very decorative silver stars and moons sprinkled on it. The first time I saw it in the men’s clothing store I fell in love with it. Not often do I go gaga over a piece of attire but this one sort of caught my fancy.

When we got at the restaurant all of my friends admired my new tie.

“That’s a terrific tie,” someone said.

“Wordage again a time like that?” Another person chimed in.

I won’t say that I took advantage of the situation, I did, but if I have to say it’s you don’t know me very well. Every once in a while I glanced toward my wife and raise my eyebrows three times, which is a sign of arrogance on my part. I’ve earned this moment and so I was going to cash it in for all it was worth.

But what I didn’t figure on was the fact that we were at a restaurant that was serving all-you-can-eat spaghetti. I love spaghetti, and so I was planning on having a wonderful evening.

All my friends were admiring my tie, and I was pigging out on all the spaghetti I could eat. Plus, and this was the real plus, I had one over on my wife. Husband doesn’t get to this place very often and so when it comes, exploit it.

Then it happened. I will not say whose fault it was, although I have some very deep suspicious ideas. My wife was sitting to my left and somebody on my right ask if we would pass the spaghetti. I was so busy gloating that I did not realize what was developing.

“Here,” my wife said, “pass this on.”

Whether she let go before I grabbed it, or, my left hand went numb, I will never know. I am not one to pass the blame. However, accidents do happen.

The bold the spaghetti sauce slipped out of my hand and attached itself most ferociously to my prized tie. All around the table there was a gasp. Then silence. Then out of nowhere came a very distinct snicker. I have heard this snicker many times before and did not have to turn to see who was the proud owner of that snicker.

In fact, all the way home I heard low-volume editions of that snicker.

Being the man of the house, I drove all the way home in silence but I was thinking of a verse of Scripture in the book of Proverbs. Proverbs 16:18 says: “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.”

Can I get an “Amen” for that?

Granted, there are some questionable resources and programs out there that will have you spinning your wheels without ever seeing results, but this message isn’t about what is being offered, it’s intended to help people focus on what they DO with materials they’ve chosen to try.

Have you ever watched how people tend to communicate on a work at home message forum…without posting yourself…just to glimpse the potential reasons why so many are failing time and again?

In a nutshell, these people who are prone to repetitive failure are STILL believing they will somehow run across “the ultimate formula”, or they will just happen to stumble upon the “one guarded secret” that will bring them HUGE income…FAST.

Make a mental note here: There is NO SUCH THING.

Ok, so in watching some work at home message boards for a while, you happen to notice that every time someone poses an “opportunity” or Internet Marketing “resource”, or previously unheard of “Get Paid to” program, or promising sales pitch for a new “sitebuilder complete with customizable affiliate ads in place”, 43 members of the forum race hastily to be the first to reply….”Me! Me! Me! Here’s my email address, send me the information!! Hurry! I want to be first! I need to make money online! Right now!”

Another mental note: Posting your email address on a message board is like saying, “I want to be a victim, spam me, I want EVERYONE and his brother to show me their opportunities for $49.95!”.

On with the story…ok, so you happen to notice that the same 43 forum members are jumping at everything they see, all over the boards, from cool sounding Business Opportunities to Click and Earn Marketing, and from Get Paid for Surveys to Work at Home Employment Listings.

Third mental note: The definition of “determination” is NOT a hard drive full of purchased products that a person collects without having a clue how to fully utilize any of them. Additionally, something is NOT a SCAM simply because a person got to step three and then gave up in frustration and impatience.

Working from home is just that…”working”. I would venture to guess that we ALL probably start out acting very similarly to the 43 forum members mentioned above. After all, we’ve been conditioned to believe that the Internet is all about delivering what we’re seeking in a fraction of the time it would take to drive to the library, find the geographical maps section, grab the right resource, and help junior look up exactly where Argentina should be listed on his school project.

In summary: When approaching work at home, approach it as “work”. When applying for work at home jobs, use the same professionalism you would use as if you were walking into H&R Block, with resume in hand, in response to their ad published in the Help Wanted section of your local newspaper.

Appearing as if you’re flighty, scattered, anxious, and in need of Ritalin isn’t going to get you anything but a sideways look after you walk out of the building.

Choose ONE thing and learn to do it WELL. Go through each of the steps fully, looking for answers to end your confusion when you get stuck, and follow through until completion. Go back over the steps, make improvements, learn more, and follow through. Then you can look at the NEXT thing and repeat all of the above.

Finally, do NOT expect instantaneous results. Nurture it, give it time to grow, give YOURSELF time to grasp what you’re doing, continue learning, and remain focused on the end result rather than scanning the web for the “next venture” that MIGHT be “easier”.

Final mental note: Whether or not you “reach” your own definition of success is entirely up to you. Sometimes, altering the way you “perceive” working online, or from home, and analyzing yourself, your strengths, and where and why you’ve failed before, will give you valuable (sometimes painful, but useful just the same) insight to help you alter those destructive habits.

You CAN make a promising career and income working from home, rather than making a career out of trying to make a career…and failing repeatedly.

About the Author:
Polly Taskey is the webmaster of WAHcycle ™, the Official Work at Home Swap, Sell, Share Network allowing members to swap, sell, or share work at home job leads, equipment, training, co-promotion, affiliate programs, articles, ebooks, advice, success stories, and much more free. Polly has overcome many difficult obstacles and has been supporting her family alone while working from home since 2003. She has become self-educated in Web Design, Graphic Design, Internet Marketing, and Freelance Writing. This by-line must be included in full with proper credit given when re-posting this article. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Polly_Taskey

God has blessed you with a vision for a business. You research your market, you write up a business plan and you make the leap. So how can Christians in business be successful? The answer is to stay true to your Christian convictions.

Cultivate a sweet and willing spirit. Read and meditate over Galatians 5. Remember the difference between you and unbelievers. God has called you to bear the fruit of the Spirit. Allow those passages to shape your testimony in business.

Guard your virtues. Keep a distance from unbelievers. In business this means work with believers. Unbelieving costumers are one thing, unbelieving coworkers are another. Be cautious about who you bring into your business. Remember that the act of everyone is a testimony about you and your business.

Be vigilant about your testimony. Christians in business are constantly tempted to cut corners or bend the rules. This is the fastest way to the bottom. Whether you are a sole proprietorship or not, your reputation is all that matters. Walk away from situations that will leave you and your testimony tainted.

Provide opportunity for fellowship. Depending on the type of business you run, you may or may not be able to encourage Bible studies or similar activities. However, there is no law about inviting your employees or costumers to your home. Hospitality goes a long way in making an impression. Also, don’t forget the power of fellowship with your current support system. Bounce ideas off other believers. Perspective is key to finding a stray sheep.

Run a Christian business. Run your business as Jesus would. Don’t let people walk all over you, but don’t walk all over others either. Be proactively helpful. Be fair and a model business person.

Finally, remember there is nothing unchristian about providing for your family. If the opportunity dries up and you are forced to move on in order to provide for you family, do it. Whether you are a head of household or not, God has given you a family; take care of them. Never put your business above your family and never put your business above God. The hardest thing about Christians in business is avoiding idols. Don’t worship your business.

About the Author:
Lori Bell is an entrepreneur and creator of the Kingdom Business Success Blueprint, the step-by-step system designed for Christian business owners who want to use their knowledge, experience and talent to start a successful online business that creates passive income, more time and more fun! If you are ready to accelerate your profits and launch your million dollar idea, visit Kingdombusinesssuccess.com for a FREE audio program of “Package Your Passion For Online Profits: How To Transform Your Own Ideas, Knowledge and Experience Into A Money-Making Kingdom Business”. Article Source

In chapter five of the book, Bridges discusses the power that sin has over us. He talks about the “dominion of sin” and reminds readers that once we are saved, sin’s hold us on is broken. Now, I’ve heard this said over the years and while I believe it to be true, I have always wondered what, then, is wrong with me? Why do I still struggle with sin? In fact, I’ve often thought to myself, “I must not be a very good Christian if I’m still struggling with such-and such. I’m sure so-and-so doesn’t struggle like I do.”

Over and over I’ve barraged myself with thoughts like these until I truly believed there was something wrong with me – that somehow sin DID still have power over me.

Thankfully, Bridges shares a story in this book that helped me understand why we still encounter the struggles with sin that we face:

An illustration from warfare can help us see how this is true. In a particular nation two competing factions were fighting for control of the country. Eventually, with the help of an outside army, one faction won the war and assumed control of the nation’s government. But the losing side did not stop fighting. They simply changed their tactics to guerrilla warfare and continued to fight. In fact, they were so successful that they country supplying the outside help could not withdraw its troops.

So it is with us. Our enemy has been defeated, but we continue to fight an unseen war – our enemy now using guerrilla tactics now since sin no longer controls us.

Galatians 5:17 confirms this: “For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want to do.”

But, praise God, there is hope! We can trust that God has truly defeated sin our our behalf and that we are free from sin (Romans 6:18). We can rely on God to work within us (Philippians 2:13). And we can offer ourselves to God to be “used in doing good.” (Romans 6:13b)

I know that I have so much more to learn! Stay tuned for Part 3 coming soon. And please comment and let me know how God is working within you on this topic!

I walked by a summer league baseball field the other day. I noticed a sign on the fence. A huge sign. It read …

MLB players are little league players that never gave up.

I stood there for a moment … watching the little leaguers. They were clumsy. Uncertain and awkward. But they had an interest in
Improving their skills. I knew that some of those little guys would Some day achieve their dreams. They would be winners.

In order to be a winner at Network Marketing, it takes time. Maybe even a very long time.

As a network marketer, you must realize that success doesn’t happen over night.
It happens little by little each day.

Beginning your network marketing journey will be scary and awkward. You will be unsure and uncertain at times.

Allow yourself to make mistakes and learn from those. It will help you in your journey to success. As you learn, your network marketing business will grow and prosper. Everyone makes mistakes. Capitalize on them.

Feeling frustrated? That is okay too. Everyone has a bad day. Even the most successful network marketers get knocked down. However, they choose to get right back up and keep going time and time again.

Spend time on personal development. To truly succeed, you must work on yourself
first! Carve out a few minutes every day to focus on YOU. Apply what you learn to your
network marketing business and your personal life. It might surprise you how the two
mesh together.

Think positive. Believe you can succeed at network marketing. Keep negative thoughts out of your mind. Surround yourself with positive thoughts. You need to believe in yourself before others will believe in you.

Building a business is a journey, not a race. It doesn’t happen over night. Take steps every
day and you will see results.

About the Author
Lisa Willard is a life-time learner and online marketer. Are you interested in learning the secrets of building a business online. You can contact me at lwillard@omega1w.net or visit my personal website at http://www.OnlineCandleTeam.com. Article Source

As a mom you have kids running around the house. Some of them may be yours while others may not be, but that’s ok because your kids will be where you can see them.

If you have kids that want to help mommy with her business or if you have kids that want to make money, then you should allow them to help. It will help them have an understanding of business and it will help them with responsibility.

There are so many things your kids can do to help you with your business. What they can do depends on your business, but there is always something you can come up with. Make sure you give them things that are age appropriate and make sure they understand what you want them to do.

Here are a few suggestions that will work with most businesses.

1. If you like to hand out flyers, consider having your children go door to door placing a flyer in the handle of the screen door. Make sure you explain what the sign no solicitations means so they don’t place a flyer on a door that says that.

2. If you send out packages to your customers, you can have your kids help you pack the boxes. Depending on the age of your children, you may need to check each box before it goes out, but they’ll still feel like they helped.

3. Preparing envelopes to include in your packages is another task your kids can do for you. They can prepare the envelope in its entirety or you can have everything prepared and they can put them in the envelopes for you.

4. If your kids are older and enjoy the computer and the internet, you could train them how to do some of your online tasks. Article marketing, blog posts, and email management are just a few of the tasks they can handle. Step by step instructions will make it easier for them to handle.

You need to remember that your kids want to spend time with you. When you have a business to run that can be a challenge. The best way to make it work is to have them help you run your business.

Depending on the age of your kids, you may be able to find the perfect task for them to handle. When you can work side by side with them you will all have fun and you’ll be able to accomplish what you set out to do each day and still spend that quality time with your kids that you all crave.

About the Author
Corrie Petersen runs several successful businesses. She is a success virtual assistant and she successfully runs a Christian jewelry business with her family. Visit her websites at http://www.virtualfreedom4you.com and http://www.heavenlycrosses.com to see what she has to offer.

On Monday last there was a confusing cacophony swirling all around me. Usually, I’m not one to give vent to the noises around me but this was a little different. I like to pick sides but this time I’m not sure who to root for. Perhaps you can understand the confusion I am facing.

It is like being a Gator fan in Bulldog territory.

This uncertain sound has confused the dickens out of me, and it isn’t even Christmas time.

Looking out our living room window, I spotted the source of all this commotion. It was a yellow school bus filled with children on their way to their first day of school. As I watched the bus turn left and disappear out of sight, I thought about how the same incident can have completely opposite reactions.

First, there was the loud “hurrahs” of parents all through the community rejoicing in the commencement of school. Either, my hearing is getting better or the sound is getting louder, almost deafening. Up and down our street parents were high-fiving each other and smiling like they won the lottery. Even the lady across the street who has no children was out in her bathrobe joining in the celebration.

Then, second, there was the equally loud sound of groaning children commencing their formal education. After about three months of absolute freedom and fun, it was all behind them now and they were walking to their school classroom to set and set and set for the entire day.

The people I pity the most are the teachers who are the recipients of this horde of students who have not yet finished enjoying the fullness of their summer vacation. It seems that summer concludes rather quicker than the young people desire. Why is it good times go so fast and bad times seemed to drag on and on and on.

I am not sure which side of the fence I’m on with this one. I feel deeply towards these young people who after several months of freedom and absolute cavalier activity are now headed back to classrooms and discipline and cafeteria food. The fact that any kid survives cafeteria cuisine is a tribute to the constitutional strength of their stomach and digestive system.

But then I can understand the cheering on the side of the parents. I remember those days when my wife and I loaded up the children onto the bus for the first day of school. We stood together holding hands watching the bus drive out of sight and then we turned and slowly walked back into the house and sat down for a quiet cup of coffee. Let me underscore that word “quiet.”

Don’t get me wrong here, I love children, especially my children but I sure do love a quiet cup of coffee.

That seems to be the story of life. What makes one person happy is a burden to somebody else. What one person looks forward to with a great deal of anticipation, somebody else dreads the blasted thing.

This brings me to the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage and Yours Truly.

We have a few things in common, but mostly, we like different things.

For example, she loves a fresh broccoli salad (yuck). I am not sure how anybody in his or her right mind could eat a broccoli salad let alone eat it on purpose and enjoy it. I, representing the saner half of our marriage equation, love freshly baked apple fritters.

In 39 years of marital bliss we have never been able bring these two things together. Her love for broccoli is equal only to my loathing of it. And when I loathe something I loath it… you know what I mean?

You are not going to believe this, but my wife turns her nose up at my freshly baked Apple fritters. I don’t understand it. All I can figure out is all those years of consuming broccoli has in some way destroyed her ability to taste good things. Just smelling broccoli burns my nose so bad that I can’t smell anything for three weeks. Imagine what it does to your taste buds.

I have an irrevocable contract with my stomach. I will never put into my stomach anything that does not pass the sniff test. Broccoli doesn’t, so I haven’t.

After all these years there is no way that my wife and I will ever agree in this area. Like parents and children on the first day of school, we have a different reaction to the same thing.

What has held us together all these years is simply this; she eats the broccoli and I eat the Apple fritters. She does not force her broccoli on me, and I do not force my Apple fritters on her.

We never encroach on the other’s happiness, which has made both of us quite happy.

One of the things that I have learned at a happily married husband is that there is a time and place for everything. There is a time to speak up… but that is rather rare. Knowing when to shut up is a gem of inestimable worth in a marriage relationship.

The Bible says, “Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding” (Proverbs 17:28).

It is better to keep quiet and let people guess if you are stupid than to say something and remove all doubt.

The Rev. James L. Snyder is pastor of the Family of God Fellowship, 1471 Pine Road, Ocala, FL 34472. He lives with his wife, Martha, in Silver Springs Shores. Call him at 352-687-4240 or e-mail jamessnyder2@att.net. The church web site is www.whatafellowship.com.

During my high school career I was no thespian, however, I could act the fool when called upon. My friend was the thespian and starred in our senior high school play, “Finian’s Rainbow.” One of the musical numbers was, “When I’m not near the girl I love,
I love the girl I’m near.”

I have altered this title a little to fit my own needs. My version goes, “When I’m not in the season I love, I love the season I’m in.” It is a wonderful motto and has solved quite a few problems down the years. Just don’t ask me to sing it for you. I can, but you do not want to hear it… believe me.

At my age I have learned a thing or two. One of the things I have learned is that you might as well be content where you are at because that is where you are. All these people that are jumpy and nervous because they are not exactly where they want to be, waste a lot of precious time and energy.

I am old enough to appreciate where I am at. I could bemoan the fact that I’m not somewhere else, but what good would that do. I know I’m not at my destination yet, so I am determined to enjoy the journey and not miss one thing along the way.

This is the difference between the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage and Yours Truly.

Just the other day her Majesty was complaining about the weather. “It’s so hot outside, I can hardly stand it.”

Of course, I could not resist saying, “Well, why don’t you sit down.” To which, she treated me to one of her infamous glares. Somehow, in the hot sunshine her glare did not have its normal effect. For one, she was too hot and did not have the energy to follow through on her glare.

But I love the summer. It is a wonderful time of the year and my affection for the season goes all the way back to my days in school.

I enjoy every aspect of summer and when God created summer, he created a masterpiece. Not a summer day goes by that I do not thank him for the summer.

I need to get one thing quite clear. I am not one of those who lay out in the sun to get a suntan. That is not my cup of tea… or rather glass of lemonade. I do not fault those who lay out in the sun to get what they call a suntan. Rather, I feel sorry for those old saps. Why ruin a good day by laying in the sun?

I had one bad sunburn in my life. It happened on our honeymoon. My wife and I were married in August in the year of our Lord 1971. Upon common consent, we chose for our honeymoon location Niagara Falls.

The motel we stayed in had a marvelous swimming pool. At the time, my companion in nuptials and I thought we were living the life of luxury. This was the first time we had been on our own and we were going to enjoy it to the hilt. Too bad we could not afford a Hilton.

Late that morning we walked several blocks down the street and treated ourselves to our first lunch as a “till-death-do-you-part” twosome. I am not sure what we ate all I remember is the company was terrific. After lunch, we decided to spend some time at the poolside.

Being unaccustomed to the life of luxury I did not know what the rules were. So, in my sheer ignorance I decided to sit by the pool and luxuriate in the beautiful August sun. Obviously, I was more tired than I realized and fell into a wonderfully deep sleep.

Finally, I began to hear a voice I recognized and soon began to understand some of the words. “Do you know it’s almost time for supper?”

I opened my eyes and tried to smile. My face would not smile. In fact, my face felt rather hot. Then the rest of my body joined in the fiery chorus informing me that every bit of my body was ablaze. I had a sunburn to beat all sunburns. I could not move. I could not get up from the lounge chair.

A short journey into panic-land brought me into full consciousness. With great care and with the help of my new wife I was able to get into our room. I laid down in the bed with every corpuscle in my body screaming in protest. The more I lay there the hotter I became. I heard of hot bridegrooms on their wedding night but this was how I pictured it.

Fortunately, we had planned to stay in the motel for a week and for a week exactly, I lay in my bed unable to move without excruciating pain.

Ever since that time, I have had a great deal of respect for the summer sun. Even though I had that one bad experience, I have never blamed it on the summer season. Rather, I have reveled in what the Bible teaches. “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).

It is in the “all things” that I discover God’s love for me.

Summer time means we’re usually outside more, away from the computer, and getting some sunshine. That can make it difficult to stick with some of the marketing plans that rely heavily on the internet. Not sure what to do to stay active with your marketing while busy enjoying summer with your family? Here are a few low-tech and off-line ways you can get in some business marketing while you’re off to the beach or park.

Write Thank You Notes: Real, old-fashioned pen and paper note cards are still available at your local stores. Pick up a few packages and some stamps. Then write a few while you’re watching your kiddos play outside in the yard. You could send them to your top customers, the ones who’ve been with you the longest, vendors who make it easy to work with them, or even bloggers who you enjoy following online. A hand written thank you note can go a long way towards building a relationship with key clients or those you want to connect with.

Carry Your Business Cards & Let Them Out of Your Purse: Keep your business cards ready so you can hand them out when you meet someone who could use your products or services, or who knows someone who could. Business cards are a very inexpensive marketing tool. I like Overnight Prints. Vista Print is also very popular.

Advertise on Your Taxi: Do you feel like a taxi driver hauling your kids around to all those summer activities? Get a nice decal or magnet to stick on your vehicle and get some extra benefit from all that extra mileage. Check out the options from Vista Print here.

Use Your Products: If you sell a product, keep it with you and use it creatively while you’re out and about. Sell Tupperware? Use it for the kid’s snacks when you go to the park. Sew your own hand bags, diaper bags, clothing, or baby carriers? Make sure you’ve got a nice visible logo and website URL on the item and then wear it proudly while you’re away from home.

Make Targeted Donations: Keeping in mind who your ideal client is, choose things to donate to that reach that client and involve your children. For example, most little league type summer activities are always open to donations of items or sponsorships.

Wear Your Logo: Websites like Cafe Press make it easy to custom design t-shirts, baseball caps and more with your designs. Create one for you or your kids with your logo or an appropriate slogan, quote or funny line and your website URL.

About the Author:

And now, let me give you access to some great free resources for small businesses including 101 Free/Cheap Ways to Market Your Business, 119 Things You Can Outsource, and more at MichelleShaeffer.com

Michelle Shaeffer has been a work at home mom for more than 10 years and loves to share the tips and strategies she’s learned to help other home based business owners balance, manage, and market their businesses.

Do you ever feel like life is nothing but a roller coaster ride and everything within you just wants to get off? Your joy and peace can be stolen, within moments, by discouragement and despair. We find ourselves with fleeting faith, when the troubles of life come crashing in on us like relentless waves in a stormy sea.

Though we claim to trust in a Shepherd who leads us through valleys . . . we find ourselves “wanting” . . . “fearing evil” . . . wondering if He’s really with us. With each step we take, it seems unlikely that there are any “green pastures” . . . much less “still waters.” We’re not so sure we like His rod or His staff . . . they don’t seem to be so “comforting.” Instead of our “souls being restored,” we’re convinced, with each passing moment, our valley may lead us into a canyon.

It can be difficult to believe that God’s plans are for “good,” when life seems to be unraveling. Yet, without doubt, there would be no need for faith. (God uses ALL things for good . . . even our doubt and disbelief) And faith is where God draws the line. It’s the place where you must make a decision to step over the line. In the words of missionary Helen Roseveare, God’s voice shouts to us in our pain . . . “Can you thank Me for trusting you with this experience, even if I never tell you why?” God’s question cuts to the heart of our faith. He calls us out, and His question begs an answer. He asks us to trust Him, even if He never answers our questions. It’s His way of making us completely dependent upon Him. He’s taking us on a journey, and He’s asking us to make a decision to trust Him at every step.

When we find ourselves in difficult and sometimes seemingly insurmountable situations . . . God draws a line. We stand on the side of questioning His ways, giving into doubt, unsure that we can take even one more step. But, there’s Jesus. He stands on the other side of the line and His outreached hand beckons us like a child learning how to walk. There’s the strength in His eyes that assures us He’s there to help us, and He will not let us fall . . . if we will take that step.

You see, the truth is . . . God has blessed you with the very trials you’re in. Though you can’t understand it or make sense of it all, God has trusted you with the tribulations that threaten to overcome you. He is increasing and strengthening your faith by threatening to destroy it. Never forget: there’s no victory without a battle. The Apostle Paul didn’t call it a “fight of faith” for nothing. This life is an intense battle between the spirit and the flesh and God is asking us, in this life, while we are still in our flesh, to step over the line of faith and live through the Spirit that leads us into victory. He’s asking us to step out of this world, and step over the line of faith, into His.

Our difficulties, our troubles, are not the circumstances that we face, but our internal battle . . . it’s our struggle to believe . . . it’s our conflict between what we “see” and the spirit that urges us to trust God in the midst of everything that contradicts our faith. It comes down to an act of the will . . . it comes down to a decision. Everything you’re facing in life comes down to ONE question, “Do you trust God?” In times of greatest doubt, when you struggle to simply “carry on,” will you make the decision to step over the line? Every obstacle you’re facing is an opportunity, given to you by God, in order to increase your faith. By trusting Him, you’re declaring that your God is bigger than anything you face. Without the resistance to your faith . . . your faith would never grow. God knows what He’s doing. He’s always up to something. It’s always something good. And it’s always something worth cherishing hope for.

By stepping over the line, you’re looking into the face of fear, the dangers that threaten to destroy you, the giant issues you face, the encroaching walls of affliction, the principalities and powers that are out to destroy you . . . and completely casting yourself into the arms of God. By stepping over the line, you’re refusing to rely on your feelings and walk by sight . . . you’re choosing to be led by faith in God alone. By stepping over the line, you’re declaring to God, “I’m tired of being up and down, tossed about, and questioning Your ways . . . You’ve drawn a line, and I’m stepping over the line, by faith. By stepping over the line, you’re ultimately telling God, “I trust you.” And there’s a promise for those who step over the line:

Those who trust in, lean on, and confidently hope in the Lord are like Mount Zion,

which cannot be moved but abides and stands fast forever. (Psalm 125:1 AMP)

My first step into the work-at-home world was as a data extractor for a company in my local area. Believe it or not, I found that job in the Classified Ads section of the newspaper. That, however, was ten years ago. A lot has changed in the last ten years – the internet alone has grown by leaps and bounds. So, what are some of the best ways for people in today’s market to find a telecommuting opportunity?

Classified Ads
One good thing about the technology available to us today is that most Classified Ads are now not only listed in print newspapers, but online as well. Take a look through these to see if there are businesses in your area looking for local at-home workers.

Online Job Sites
Most online job websites now offer telecommuting listings. Use the search term “telecommute” to help give you the best results. There are even websites that cater to the work-at-home crowd such as HireMyMom.com. Remember – always be sure to read the fine print, and research each company/opportunity that interests you.

Freelance
More and more at-home workers are freelancing on a contract basis. Writers, web designers, graphic artists, and more are finding this a viable option to allow them to work from home. There are websites, such as elance.com, that cater specifically to the freelance community and make it easy for freelancers to connect with companies and individuals looking to hire them.

Start A Business
Other trend among telecommuters is heading out on their own. Taking the data entry and executive assistant skills that they’ve gained over the years, these at-home workers are now launching their own Virtual Assistant (VA) services, Copy-writing services and other such businesses.

There are an amazing amount of resources for telecommuters today. These positions are in high demand, so be sure to polish your resume and tailor it to fit the type of work that you’re searching for. Be persistent – it may take a while to locate the right opportunity, but it will be well worth the wait.

–

Jill Hart’s entrepreneurial career began in her teens when she spent a summer working with her father who ran his own business. When he put her in charge of a Coke machine and allowed her to keep the profits, she saw the benefits of being her own boss. She is the founder of the popular Christian work-at-home website CWAHM.com and mentors business owners at http://SuccessfulChristianWomen.com. Jill is also the co-author of So You Want To Be a Work-at-Home Mom (Beacon Hill Press, 2009).

When a person has reached the ripe old age I have reached there are precious few pleasures left. Actually, there are many pleasures left but no energy to pursue them and if I happen to catch a pleasure, I can’t remember what in the world I’m supposed to do with it.

One pleasure has been by my side for more years than I care to remember. No matter what the circumstances I may be in at the moment, I can always count on this pleasure to lift my spirits and paint a grin on my mug. Of course, if the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage catches me with this pleasure I have some real explaining to do.

This is where my wife and I paddle separate canoes.

The pleasure I am referring to has created more discussion – or maybe I should say monologues – in our home then just about anything else. I’m for it and she’s against it. In all reality, her arguments against it, at least in verbiage, far outweighs my argument for it.

When you come right down to it is very difficult to explain why you like the things that you like. My motto is, to each person his own pleasure. In this regard, we are not all created equal.

The pleasure I am speaking about is a lowly, but highly delicious, Apple Fritter. When God created the Apple Fritter, he sat down and said, “Uhm, um um that’s good.” And the world has never been the same since.

When I see an Apple Fritter I say, “Uhm, um um that’s good.”

When my wife sees an Apple Fritter, particularly my Apple Fritter, she says, “How many calories are in that?” She never refers to it by its proper name but simply calls it, “That.”

My view on the subject is that when something tastes as wonderful and as delicious as an Apple Fritter there is actually no reason to count calories. In fact, in the pursuant of the pleasure of eating an Apple Fritter calories simply do not count.

Someone who did not know me very well might ask an obvious question, “When eating an Apple Fritter aren’t you worried about what your wife may say?”

That is a perfectly reasonable question. With all the problems in the world and all of the difficulties and disappointments we encounter day by day, that would be a very good question to ask. However, when I am in the “act” of eating an Apple Fritter nothing else matters in the whole world. That is the effect an Apple Fritter has on Yours Truly.

I believe that is the purpose of a pleasure; to help me forget about the nastiness of the world around me.

To be honest, I must say that my wife has one good point about my Apple Fritters. If you just look at the ingredients of an Apple Fritter, you could conclude that it is unhealthy for a person. However, that is looking at it from the scientific side of things.

I look at things from the philosophical side. And when I do that, I must conclude that the lowly Apple Fritter has marvelous restorative abilities. With all the ingredients laid out on the table I will find no appetite for it. In fact, I might turn my nose up in disgust if I look just at the ingredients.

However, put them all together and wave a magical wand over it and voilà, you have an Apple Fritter capable of bringing a great deal of pleasure to someone like me.

Normally, if someone like me has normal moments, I keep the consumption of my Apple Fritters from my wife. And I do this out of deep respect and love for her… not to mention my Apple Fritter. I know if she knew I was eating an Apple Fritter it would upset her. Not wanting to upset my Beloved, what she does not know I am eating will not hurt her or me for that matter.

I was just thinking the other day, if the whole world were an Apple Fritter who would need heaven. Nothing pleasures me more than indulging in a freshly baked Apple Fritter. How wonderful it would be if this pleasure was multiplied a billion times around our world.

Instead of war, or hate, or greed, or lust, or killing, there would simply be Apple Fritter Time. Everybody would indulge in sharing the marvelous pleasures of eating Apple Fritters. We would sit around café-like and talk about how wonderful Apple Fritters are. The center of every conversation would be delighting in Apple Fritters.

Every language on the Earth would have something nice to say about this delicacy. It would be the common point of conversation in every nation under the sun.

This kind of world would make heaven here on earth.

But this is not the kind of world we live in. The apostle Paul noted this when he wrote, “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not. For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better” (Philippians 1:21-24).

No pleasure upon the Earth, even Apple Fritters, compares to what God has in store for us in heaven.

The Rev. James L. Snyder is pastor of the Family of God Fellowship, 1471 Pine Road, Ocala, FL 34472. He lives with his wife, Martha, in Silver Springs Shores. Call him at 352-687-4240 or e-mail jamessnyder2@att.net. The church web site is www.whatafellowship.com.

One of the most common questions asked by internet business owners is “How can I increase sales?” Many articles, ebooks and reports have been written on this subject and trying to absorb that information just tends to make us more confused than ever! Below are some easy, innovative ideas to increase sales that anybody can implement into their online marketing strategies.

1. Offer “Freebies” on your site for your visitors. Free reports, ebooks, services, support, ezine, etc. can be great ways to increase your customer’s trust in you, thus bringing you more sales. Another way to offer something free is to offer a free bonus with every order.

2. Add a community message board to your website. Encourage your visitors to be a part of this community. This will also help increase trust and sales. Offer help, advice, support etc. via your community.

3. Use “bundling” to enable your customers to save money by ordering more! This marketing tactic has done wonders for many businesses and it can for you as well. I offer ebook bundles or kits and they have increased my sales immensely. For example: I sell ebooks for one dollar each but by bundling 35 together for just $15.00, I not only help my customers, I help my business increase sales as well. Make up a separate sales page for your “bundles” and offer a variety of bundle specials as well. Remember, helping your customers, helps you as well.

4. Participate in autoresponder ad swaps. If you send out autoresponder messages fine other online businesses who do the same and contact them with an offer of an ad swap. You will place their ad on your messages, if they do the same for you. This can be a great way to get more exposure for your business. Find businesses that complement yours. For example: if you sell jewelry find business owners who sell clothing as this would help your business not compete with it.

5. Post a tip board on your site. Change the tips daily or weekly to keep people coming back for more. Make sure the tips are helpful and contain useful information and/or resources.

6. Follow-up with customers and potential customers to make sure their experience was satisfying or to offer your help and assistance when needed. When a person emails me with questions about selling ebooks, I answer promptly and then in a few days I send a follow-up. I ask them if they have received my reply and if there is anything else I can do for them. This simple task takes about two minutes, yet brings in a lot of sales. It shows the customer you care about providing a good experience for them and are willing to help them if they need it.

7. Create a survey for your site and encourage your visitors to participate. Give them something in return such as a free gift or discount on their first order. Surveys can help you determine if something needs to be changed on your site or in the way you conduct your marketing. This information could be invaluable to your business! Do a search for “create free survey forms” and you should find lots of services that will help you do this.

8. Keep your website fresh and update it regularly. If you never add anything new people will stop coming. Add new articles, new sales, new contests, new freebies, new information, etc.

9. Always tell your customers thank you and let them know they are appreciated. Never treat them as if they are a bother or a waste of time. Even if a potential customer does not buy from you, they might tell someone about their experience and that person could come and order from you. Unfortunately, these days, many businesses forget that it is the customers that keep them alive!

10. Write a report or ebook and offer it to people and let them know they can give it to their visitors and subscribers. Webmasters are always looking for good resources to offer their visitors, why not make it yours. Think of the possibilities – you give it to 5 people, they each give it to 5 more people and so on and so on. The free exposure you get is limitless!

There are limitless ways to build your business online and increase sales. Many are free so don’t be afraid to try new things and contact other business owners for joint ventures, ad swaps, etc. This article is just the tip of the iceberg, so to speak, so start today and get more sales for you and your business!

About the Author:
Terri Seymour (also known as “The eBook Lady”) has over ten years online experience and has helped many people start their own business. Visit her site at www.seymourproducts.com for resources, $1 resell ebooks & software, free tutorials, affiliate programs, free ezine and free business ebook with Master Resell Rights. www.seymourproducts.com/free.shtml

Article Source: http://www.wahm-articles.com

I had just snuggled down into my easy chair for an evening of reading and relaxation. I was reading a book I had just purchased and was quite anxious to get into it. The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage was dutifully going through the daily newspaper. She tries to keep up on the news while I try to escape the news. She is more successful than I am.

All of a sudden, I heard from her side of the room, “I just can’t believe this.”

I tried to pretend I did not hear it and went back to my book.

“Of all the ridiculous things in the world,” she said as though she were talking to somebody other than me. I pretended she was and continued my reading hoping that was the last of her outbursts.

Then I heard, “Aren’t you listening to me?”

It was then I knew I had to put my book down and find out what all the consternation on her side was about. Some things you can ignore and then some things you better not ignore. My wife comes under the latter.

“What’s got you all riled up?” I queried.

“It’s this article in the newspaper about forbidding prayers and especially prayers using the name Jesus. Of all the stupid things in the world, this has to take the cake. I have a good mind to….”

I must confess I was not listening to her after this point. With all the turmoil and trouble in this world, people are making an issue about praying in public. A little while back Franklin Graham was disinvited to a meeting where he was supposed to have the opening prayer.

Any person with any degree of reason between their ears should know that humanity in general, our country in particular, is up to the chin in trouble. The leaders in our country have operated on the basic principle that they can handle the affairs of our country. Well, how is that working out?

The best and brightest minds in our country have caused everything they touch to turn into a complete disaster.

Never in our country have we had so much trouble and difficulty. Now, in light of this ineptitude, people are saying that we cannot pray in public. In my mind that is an oxymoron… which is a nice way of saying dumb bull.

Then drifting in the background, I heard my wife say, “Why do you suppose they’re so afraid of prayer?”

Then it dawned me. She was exactly right.

Why do people who do not believe in God and do not believe in prayer fight so hard against them? Why do they fear God? What are they afraid about prayer?

As I mused on this, a thought came tiptoeing through the corridors of my mind.

If those claiming to be Christians feared God and prayer as much as those who are not Christians, something would really change in this country. There would be a new religious paradigm, I assure you.

Take prayer for example. I do not care who you are, at some point in your life you pray to something or someone. As long as there are algebra tests in the public high school there will be prayer in the public high school.

I think I have figured out why there is so much hullabaloo against public prayer in our country. These people making the uproar are desperately fearful that somebody who is praying in public will really know how to pray and make a connection.

Not everybody who prays is really praying.

If these people really did object to prayer, they would keep their mouth shut. Nine out of ten people who pray are not really praying. Sure, they are saying a few words, maybe even quoting some Scripture, but they are really not praying and their prayer never gets above the ceiling.

If one tenth of the prayers prayed on any given Sunday were answered, most of the people praying would be surprised. It seems, at least to me, that the only people who really believe in the power of prayer are the people who do not believe in prayer.

I’m not too much concerned about the people who object to prayer. After all, there is no way under heaven they can stop me from praying. What I am concerned about are people who say they believe in prayer and yet have no evidence to support that claim.

In many regards, I am a very practical person. I do not make too many demands from anybody. All I want to know is that you are who you say you are and you are doing what you say you are doing. Now, that is not too much to ask.

Here is my challenge. I will show you what my life is with God, if you show me what your life is without God. Tell me where you came from and I will tell you where I came from. I think that is fair.

All we need in this country are just a few people who really know how to get a hold of God in prayer.

The Bible says…”Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much” (James 5:16).

Let’s hear it for the righteous man who knows how to pray.

Social media is definitely hot now as a means to get clients and more exposure for your business. But understanding it all can be a challenge. Not anymore. This week we are going to break it down and show you the different social media tools and just what they can be used for in your business.

First the granddaddy of them all, Facebook. No need to tell you what Facebook is, but let’s concentrate on how it can drive sales to your business. It’s important to use your Facebook page itself as marketing tool by providing information on your business and a means to connect to you on there. It allows you to brand your business, drive more traffic to your site, post events, etc. I’ve also discovered that the advertising feature of Facebook ads works well too.

Twitter next – I for one am definitely a Twitter addict. I love it. Not only because I can connect with my friends and associates, but because it drives people to my site and the events that I host. For example, I’m doing a PR class now, and being able to tweet about it gives me more signs-ups. You just can’t beat that added exposure.

YouTube – There is no denying the power of videos. People love to feel more connected with you personally online and this is a means to do it. We recommend not only doing a single video about your business, but developing a whole series on tips that show your expertise. Just make sure these add value and aren’t just an advertisement.

TubeMogul – For video uploads and syndication, this allows you to upload a single video to dozens of video sites including YouTube. Oh yes, it’s that easy!

Flickr – This allows you to download photos and easily add them to your blogs and presentations. This is especially beneficial for real estate agents, wedding planners, event companies, etc. When you can show what you can do for clients and have done previously, it entices people to want to know more.There are so many more, but this should get you started. Isn’t it amazing what’s out there today. Until next time, happy marketing!

About the Author:

Diana Ennen is the President of Virtual Word Publishing, http://www.virtualwordpublishing.com where she specializes in PR and marketing and business startups. She is the Co-author of So You Want To Be a Work-at-Home Mom. Contact her at Diana@virtualwordpublishing.com or @dianaennen on Twitter.

The older I get, and I plan to get as old as I can, I am amazed at how monotonous things really are. When I was young, everything seemed to be so new and exciting and I looked forward to the next new adventure.

Now that I have a few years under my belt, along with a couple thousand lunches and suppers, I am in a position to have a better perspective of life. And I have noticed that all the important things repeat themselves over and over again.

I bought a brand new suit a couple of weeks ago. I could not wait to wear my new suit to church with everybody saying, “Is that a new suit?” And I will reply, “Yes, this is my new suit. How do you like it?” Therefore, the conversation that Sunday revolved around my brand-new suit. I must confess it is better than when the conversation revolves around a black eye. No matter how many times I explain my black eye, people do not believe I ran into my doorknob.

But a new suit is a different thing. I enjoyed everybody talking about my new suit and I could hardly wait until the next Sunday came around to continue the conversation.

When I got to church on Sunday, I was in for somewhat of a shock. Instead of everybody delighting in my brand-new suit as they did the Sunday before, someone said, “Isn’t that the same suit you wore last week?”

I can’t tell you how disappointed I was. Everywhere I went that Sunday people said, “Isn’t that…” and before they could finish I chirped in and said, “Yes, yes it’s the same suit I wore last Sunday.” And I said it in such a way that people began to think I was irritated by their query.

I was.

I learned a valuable lesson that Sunday. You can only wear a brand-new suit one time and then after that it is an old suit. It does not take long for something to become old but something new has only one shot at it.

I must confess that I was a little down about this whole matter. I liked my “brand-new” suit; I do not care what anybody says.

Even the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage got in on the razzmatazz. Sunday morning as we were getting dressed to go to church, she looked at me and said, “Are you going to wear your brand-new suit today?” she said with a sarcastic tone all too familiar to me.

I had some crazy ideas about my necktie at the time but, being the gentleman that I am, I simply tied it around my neck.

Just as I was lamenting my suit getting older I remembered, it was my birthday… again. When will this ever stop? Last year I had a birthday. The year before that, I had a birthday. And I could go on and on all the way back to the day I was born. Every year on the very same day, I have birthday. This is getting to be rather monotonous. I think there should come a time when a grown man should forget about having a birthday.

It is the same every year. On my birthday, everybody calls to wish me happy birthday. How do you have a happy birthday at my age? More to the point, at my age how do I know I am happy?

Here is one thing that bothers me about my birthday. When I was brand-new, I am sure people make all kind of remarks about how cute and cuddly I looked. I am sure wherever my parents went everybody commented, “Is that your new baby?”

I am quite certain this took place although… and this is what really provokes me… I do not remember that day. The most important birthday of my life and I cannot remember anything about it. Oh sure, my parents took pictures, but that is not the same.

I remember waking up on my birthday this year (these days I am glad if I remember anything) and sighed very deeply before I got out of bed. Not only was this another day, but it was another birthday. At my age, I have done so many things for my birthday I cannot think of another thing I want to do for my birthday except… nothing. A day of doing nothing would be the perfect birthday day for me.

As I made my wishes known to the one who has known me more birthdays than anybody else, she said, “But don’t you remember? That’s what you did for your birthday last year.”

So, I face a rather delicate dilemma. I am at the stage of life where I have just about done everything I wanted and so there is nothing new I can do for my birthday. Maybe it was better when I could not remember my birthday.

And so, after sighing very deeply several times I have come to an important decision in my life. Monotony is not as bad as people say it is. I plan for my birthday to do a thing that I have done repeatedly in the past, and that is nothing, but I will do it in my “brand-new” suit.

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

The Rev. James L. Snyder is pastor of the Family of God Fellowship, 1471 Pine Road, Ocala, FL 34472. He lives with his wife, Martha, in Silver Springs Shores. Call him at 352-687-4240 or e-mail jamessnyder2@att.net. The church web site is www.whatafellowship.com.

Over the last several years blogging has become the foundation for social media campaigns of businesses big and small. Where Facebook and Twitter help keep companies in the limelight, spreading the word about special events, discounts and newsworthy items, blogs are the place where companies build their reputation and make sales.

As popular as blogging has become, I often hear from home-based business owners who are trying to figure out exactly what a blog consists of and how they can use one to benefit their business. Below are three tips that can help maximize the impact of your business blog.

1. It’s All In The Name

Be sure to choose a name for your blog that is both descriptive and easy to remember. Try to stick to either your business name or the name of your star product/service. If none of these are available consider using your name or business tagline.  Also, consider possibly adding in your keywords … such as Publicity Virtual Assistant.

2. Use Keywords Effectively

When you write posts for your business blog be conscious of the words that you choose. Pepper your posts with keywords relating to your business, products, services and brand. These keywords will trigger Search Engine results and help you reach the top of the results for your keywords. Be careful not to overuse keywords, though, because readers will get frustrated  and the Search Engines consider that against the rules.

Also, consider keyword phrases – often called long tail keyword phrases (why, I’m not sure!).  Long tail keywords are simply a sting of words that make up a phrase that represent your keywords. Think, what would people type in Google to find me.  Examples, “how to start a business.”  Think … how can I define my blog more (or this particular post). I wrote this blog post on … (fill in the blank), now what keywords do I need to put in so others can find me?

3. Quality Information (No Fluff!) & Fresh, Regular Content
Another thing to consider when writing business blog posts is to keep your posts informational. The more quality content you offer to readers, the more often they will visit your blog. Also, by posting regularly your readers will get to know the schedule and tend to visit your blog on a regular basis because of it.

You know your audience best.  What do they want to hear?  Need to hear? Solve that problem that you’ve been having and you know others are having too.  Consider adding in reviews, recommendations, etc.  Your blog can be so much more than you talking about your business.  What fun thing can you add?  Contest, giveaways, etc.

There are many ways to use a blog for business use. If used correctly, a blog can be a terrific tool to inform potential customers of your business. Be sure to update your blog regularly so that the content remains fresh and people coming back for more great information.

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Tips from Jill Hart of Christian Work at Home Moms, CWAHM.com and Diana Ennen of VirtualWordPublishing.com. For more tips visit http://SoYouWantToBeaWAHM.com. These tips can be used if you include this short bio.

As the last firecracker sizzled in the night, I heaved a sigh of relief. It is not that I do not enjoy a good firework display, but after all, when you have seen one firecracker they are all just about the same. The thing they all have in common is they cost money. That is my problem. Blowing up bushels of dollars in the air does not seem very exciting to me. But the Fourth of July celebration has a different meaning for me. Certainly, I revere and celebrate the patriotic significance of the Fourth of July and faithfully pray for my
country and our leaders. That is just one tiny aspect of my observance of the Fourth of July.

One reason I look forward to the Fourth of July is so I can look backward and say, “Well, I am glad that’s over.” And truer words have never dribbled from my lips. The prized significance of the Fourth of July celebration for me is that it is the last holiday of the summer. I may be wrong here, but it seems that every month has some kind of celebration in it. Beginning with Thanksgiving all the way through to the Fourth of July there is something to celebrate every month. I sometimes forget what I am celebrating.

Now the Fourth of July celebrations over we do not have anything to look forward to until Thanksgiving. I know there is Labor Day, but what I like about this holiday is that it specializes in no labor. Then of course, there is Halloween where people dress funny and
try to scare one another. However, I do not pay too much attention to this holiday. I dress funny all year and plenty of people think I am quite scary looking.

Now, the rest of the summer is free from any kind of silly intrusions. I do not have to be concerned about a holiday until Thanksgiving when I usually stuff myself like a turkey. Stretching out before me like a grand Eldorado of titillating pleasure is a wonderful stretch of no holidays. This means I can get back to my plans for the summer. Actually, I have the same plans for every summer, which alleviates the necessity of thinking up something new to do for the summer. What I did last summer I plan to do this summer but with a lot less gusto than last summer.

What are my plans for the summer? I’m glad you asked. I plan this summer to vigorously practice my loafing skills. I have been doing this every summer as far back as I can remember and I have yet to reach that plateau of perfection. Of course, when I do reach that point I am not quite sure what I am going to do.

In the meantime, I shall vigorously pursue perfection in the art of loafing. Some may question the validity of loafing being an art form. That is because they do not know the vigorous standards associated with the art of loafing. There is a variety of disciplines related with it. Not the least being, what I call, The Noninvolvement Discipline. This is much harder than it seems. How it works is like this.

Whenever the urge to get involved in some activity hits, I vigorously discipline myself to ignore that urge, hoping it is only a temporary annoyance. This involves an extreme lack of concentration, or if you indulge in a moment of concentration, the tendency will be to act on that urge. Leave it alone, is my advice.

Another aspect of the art of loafing has to do with the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage. I must be very careful not to let her know of my loafing plans. According to her, idle hands belong to her. If she catches the slightest whiff of my plans of loafing, she pounces on me like a flea on a hound dog. She can think of more things to do during a thirty-second commercial than I can do during the whole year.

One little ploy I have used that has worked out fairly well. I always wear a necktie. It is very difficult to invite someone wearing a necktie to engage in some kind of physical work. I must say last summer she caught me cold turkey. I just came out of the bedroom and my wife looked at me rather oddly and said, “Doesn’t that tie need to be cleaned?”

I am most particular about my ties, and I like them clean. “Would you like me,” she said almost matter-of-factly, “to launder your tie?”
Without thinking (which is my strong suit), I took my tie off and handed it to her not noticing the sly little smile playing right underneath her nose. As soon as the tie exchanged hands she said, “Oh, I see you’re not wearing a tie today. Maybe you can help me clean out the garage.”

I certainly have plenty of work to do perfecting the art of loafing. Just when I think I got everything down pat, my whole plan runs askew. I am reminded of what the Bible says. “Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones” (Proverbs 3:7-8).

The Pennsylvania Dutch have a saying, “We grow too soon old, and too late smart.”

Today one of the most important aspects of running a successful business is to make sure that you streamline the payment process. You want to make it easy for your business to not only bill clients, but also easy for your clients to pay those invoices.

The best way to do that is to set up your invoicing online. Online invoicing allows customers to easily create, track, and send invoices and accept credit card payments instantly. This alleviates the stress of all the paperwork involved and allows businesses to focus more on the important aspects of running their business.

Also, it ensures that the credit card payments you receive are good and won’t be declined once you process the credit card and that you get paid in a timely fashion.No more the check is in the mail or I’ll pay that invoice tomorrow. By setting up auto-billing you can automatically charge your client’s credit card.

This is perfect for retainer and membership fees whereas billing is done on a regular basis. The bottom line is that you now have control. You’re back in charge of your finances. And it’s so easy to do.

The key is to find the right company that offers all the features you need. You want a company that can offer the following:

* The ability to collect payments online and get paid immediately with a credit card.

* The option to create, email, print, and manage all invoices.

* The ability to set up automatic and recurring billing.

* The ability to create professional looking invoices.

* The ability to send notifications on recurring transactions that a charge is going to be processed.

* Easy processing. Many companies make it so that you can start accepting payments within minutes.

One method for setting up online invoicing is through a virtual terminal, which is basically accepting payments virtually. Payments are made remotely with 24-hour access to a secure network providing instant authorization on credit transactions. Some systems also allow shopping cart capabilities and the ability to add a merchant account to an existing shopping cart or establish a new shopping cart.

Some credit card processing companies also offer additional services including the ability to accept payments over the phone. This is perfect for businesses that conduct work in and out of the office allowing them the ability to not only accept payments online but also through their existing phones, even their iPhones. So even when out in the field conducting business, sales can be processed.

Businesses that can benefit with online invoicing include virtual assistants, home-based businesses, service-oriented businesses, online retailers, those in direct sales, speakers, coaches, and so forth. Anyone who needs the ability to accept credit card payments quickly and efficiently can benefit.

Getting paid for your services and products is so critical to a company’s bottom line. To make sure you get paid regularly by your clients find the merchant account processing company that meets all your needs today and in the future. **

Author Bio

CellCharge, Inc., specializes in setting up merchant accounts and offers credit card acceptance by phone and online invoicing. Perfect for small businesses & others who want the convenience of offering their clients credit card processing anywhere, anytime. http://www.cellcharge.com

When many “brick & mortar” small business owners think about the internet and websites, they see it as advertising, just like a billboard or maybe even a television or radio commercial. Even though a website is a form of advertising it can be so much more. First and foremost a business website provides you the opportunity to inform and educate your clients about your products and your industry. When you take the time to honestly educate your clients they will naturally begin to see you as the expert that you are. That education leads to trust and lays the foundation for an ongoing relationship between you and your clients. That foundation will help your clients be able to shop with confidence knowing which products or services will best suit their needs.

We all know as business owners and consumers that a company’s customer service department can make or break the business. Providing excellent customer service or helpful client relations departments is crucial to maintaining your client’s confidence in your product and business. With a business website you are able to provide efficient and helpful customer service through a “frequently asked questions” section and “contact us” web pages. Nothing takes the place of personal help for problems, however as a small business owner you can free up some of your valuable time by addressing “frequently asked” client questions on your website. Also, many customers may want to discuss an issue or purchase with you but may not have the time available for an in-depth phone call. With a website you can have a contact form on your contact page for questions, comments and even testimonials. Your clients or prospects type their information: first name, email address and question or comment. Then they click submit and the information is sent directly to your email address. They never have to sign-in or out of their own email account, which will save them time resulting in increased feedback about your products or services. This feedback alone could be worth a fortune to your business, allowing you to better understand what prospects and clients are really in need of and how you can help them get it. Not only is the feedback great for helping you re-evaluate products, services or approaches, but it will allow you to gain client testimonials with ease.

Think back to your last big purchase. Were you referred by a friend or relative? Our human nature wants to know that we are not alone in our problems and struggles so naturally when we discover a business that has been successful in helping others with those same struggles, we are ready to listen. If that business has clients that are willing to boast about the service, products or company then we are even more likely to purchase from that business. Why? Because “so-and-so” said that they did a fantastic job, or the product was amazing and helped them tremendously. Those little blurbs of praise from satisfied customers can really turn a prospect into a client.

Not only can you use your website to educate and inform consumers about your services, products and industry, but you can provide on-going education through a weekly or monthly e-zine or newsletter. As the mother of a very “picky-eater” I struggled to find information on “How to Get my Child to Eat New Foods”, after searching I found an article many years ago that discussed a child’s need to be introduced to new foods several times before they will even try it. In fact the article recommended that you offer a new food 10-15 times before even expecting the child to eat it. Eventually, the youngster will consider it “o.k.” to consume. Well the same is true for adult consumers. We need to be familiar with a product or company before we will feel that it is safe to purchase. Most consumers need to be exposed to a product or business approximately 10-20 times before they will purchase from the company. Well unless you plan on calling folks, or stopping by to see them 10-20 times you have to find a better way. Many businesses will send flyers or sales letters which can be beneficial. However if you are a small business you will want the cheapest and most effective way of exposing your products. Almost every American consumer has access to a computer, either at home, work or even the public library. The result is that most consumers have an email address and would love to get informative updates on products or services that you offer, especially when there is a discount or promotional code in the email. For the best results in your business I would not dream of suggesting that you stop talking to customers by phone or in person, but you should consider the possibility of incorporating all four approaches to your business. Contact them in person, by phone, by mail and by email to create variety in the exposure of your business this will also provide a selling option for those customers that can not get to your “store-front” on a regular basis. It is important to understand that no one wants to open their email inbox to find 20 messages from a business. People do not want to be sold, they want to be informed. Educate them through your newsletter with genuinely helpful articles tips and resources and they will show their appreciation. Quantity is not the key! Quality is! With email newsletters it is best to use an email marketing company such as Aweber or Constant Contact to provide sign up forms and unsubscribe links, that way your clients have the choice to subscribe and unsubscribe in each email that they receive. This helps to keep you from being considered “SPAM”. These features are a requirement for any emails from businesses, so check into it before you send your first email.

Unless you are a non-profit organization, you are in business to make a profit. Let’s not kid ourselves, yes we want to help people and that should be our main concern, however if you are not making a profit then your ability to help others is strained. Having a business website can help provide another source of income for your business. Depending on your business type, you may be able to offer products directly from your website through an e-commerce section, or e-store. You do not have to offer every item you sell in your “brick & mortar” store-front, however you could make a considerable amount of money by offering a few products online. Let me give you an example. I had been talking with a small business owner not too long ago about monetizing his website. He already had a basic website developed and was happy with it. So I decided to check out his website. It was a nice site, good graphics and was simple to navigate, but I noticed that he was not offering any products online. So I did some research for him. I discovered that the website had gotten approximately 2,800 page views over the first six months it was published. That was good except he was not able to “do” anything with those clients that had viewed his website. So I took him the following information:

If only 12% of the 2,800 page views were individuals that wanted to purchase something online, and they purchased only $25.00 worth from your website each, then you would have made around $8400.00 in sales over that six month period! That is a nice chunk of change!

That business owner was missing out on possible income from his website, above what he was making from his store! Do not make the same mistake, no matter what you offer in your “brick and mortar” store-front there are ways to offer products online without “paying through the nose,”. Even if you only offer a service you can still make money through referrals to other companies, offering your own information products, or even offering company branded products such as t-shirts, mugs or something related to your service or industry. Do not miss out on your website income!

Your client’s confidence and trust is vital to your business. You can help to build that foundation by providing excellent customer service; honest resources about your products, services and industry; and by creating your own business “branding”. That “branding” is what will help clients and prospects recognize and choose your business over the competition. One of the easiest ways to accomplish these goals for less money than traditional advertising attempts is to create a business website and learn how to market online.

About the Author:
Sherry Pence is a wife, mother, educator and freelance writer. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Early to Middle Education. She is the owner of SSP Life Lessons and creator of http://www.womansguide.net. Her website offers free resources and articles for women on topics of weight-loss, small business, spiritual growth, and life as a Mommy.

Could you make money from home as an entrepreneur? As you leave behind your kids, your hopes, or your dreams for another day at the office, you catch yourself wondering if it’s possible. When you see work at home moms and entrepreneurs loving the work they do and enjoying the lifestyle they created, you may be contemplating  if you’re ready to make money from home too.

If your situation is similar to mine at all, you may have started out enjoying your career, the status or even the money that would help you and your family reach your personal and financial goals. But instead, the quality time with family, financial security and future you dreamed of seems more distant every day. You know that the possibilities of becoming an entrepreneur and making money from home could be the solution.

You also know that you’ll need a lot more than a sense of disillusionment to become a successful entrepreneur. You’re going to need a solid plan and the ability to follow through on that plan.

As someone who does successfully make money from home and is enjoying the lifestyle I dreamed of, I have come up with 10 ways to know if you’re ready to make the transition and become a successful entrepreneur.

1. You’re a true leader. An innovative leader who can tackle any challenge head-on with a positive mindset is well-positioned to become a successful entrepreneur.

2. You’re committed to your success. Failure is not an option and you are committed to following a plan proven to help you gain success.

3. You want to create financial stability for yourself and your family. You no longer want your income to be dependent on your monthly paycheck, the economy, or corporate decisions beyond your control.

4. You are not enjoying your current quality of life, and long for the freedom to stay home with the kids, travel when you feel like it, or pursue your favorite hobby. As an entrepreneur, you can create the income, the time and the freedom to enjoy the lifestyle you choose.

5. You know you need to gain and sustain a healthier lifestyle. As an entrepreneur, you’ll have the flexibility to make time to care for yourself, get the rest you need, eat healthier meals and exercise.

6. You want to lower your work-related stress and stop worrying about money. When you live the entrepreneurial lifestyle, you have control over your daily routine and can choose how much money you want to earn.

7. You want to genuinely help people and make a difference in their lives.

8. You’ve hit a ceiling in your current career or pay scale, but you know you could accomplish more if the opportunity was available to you.

9. You are committed to personal development and are coachable.  You may not have the knowledge, skills or experience in all areas, and are open to learning best practices that will help you to soar with a spirit of excellence.

10. Most importantly, you have access to a business opportunity with a proven plan that can realistically bring you the results you need.

If the items on the above list resonate with you, you may be ready to embark on your own entrepreneurial journey that will enable you to earn income from home

While the desire for success is key, it is important to remember that you will also need access to a business opportunity with a proven plan for success in any economy.  Direct sales is a great option.    Look for a business that’s as strong a leader as you are to put you on the right path to make money from home.

To discover a legitimate home business opportunity that can offer you give the financial freedom you’ve always dreamed of, I invited you to visit http://www.stepuptofreedom.com and fill in the form for information.  You’ll receive detailed information and a step by step plan for launching your way to success!

Natural health expert and Entrepreneur Rita Canada helps busy Executives, Entrepreneurs and Work at Home moms detox their bodies, lose inches, get in shape, and feel great so they have more energy for their life and business. She also helps those who desire to transition find their way to financial freedom.  She previously held several Presidential and Vice Presidential Executive appointments, and is currently a Diamond Leader in her direct sales company, a mother and a founding member of a Foundation that benefits children in Africa.

Article Source: http://www.wahm-articles.com

Are we really that busy? After all, we still seem to find time to spend thirty hours a week in front of a television, and that doesn’t even include other screens we glue ourselves to. But perhaps this is in reaction to how busy we are at other times: we rush and rush and rush, and then when we get home we collapse. Hardly a fulfilling life, is it?

Busyness Distracts

Author Mark Buchanan wrote recently that “busyness causes people to care less about the things they care about.” In other words, when you’re busy, your priorities get distorted. What happens when you’re busy and your daughter wants you to read to her? You get annoyed. What happens when your spouse wants to talk about her mother’s cancer diagnosis? You figure out how to placate her so that you can move on to something more important. What happens when your son wants you to coach Little League, or your daughter wants you to come and see the play she’s in? You get angry, because people are adding to your already full schedule and assuming they can count on you. They don’t understand all the demands you face!

We All Need Reminders of our True Priorities

Every winter our family takes a “time out” from our busyness. We head up to a cabin in the woods with another family with kids of similar ages, and we toboggan, ski, play board games, and chat, all without the benefit of electricity or running water. It’s loads of fun. Trust me.
The only downside for Katie, my 10-year-old, is the outhouse. She’s not into outhouses, and not only because of the smell. There may be spiders there, you see, even if it is twenty below. So I have to accompany her every time she feels the urge.

One particular night this year we entered said building, and as she prepared to do her business we attempted the flashlight handoff. And failed. The flashlight plummeted into the hole.

It so happens that just a few months’ prior to our visit the cabin had been used by many large men who consumed much food. So the hole was, shall we say, full.

And as the flashlight descended, the rest of the outhouse was plunged into total darkness. All we could see was the illuminated pile of you know what.

In retrospect, I wonder if this incident is really a metaphor for the purpose of our yearly visits. It’s to illuminate the huge pile of crap that is filling our lives, so that we can deal with it and move on.

When We’re Not Busy We Really Live

In that cabin with no electricity and no pagers and no computers, we spend time with each other. We talk. We wrestle and tickle. We listen. And we remember why we actually enjoy being a family. It’s bliss.

When I think about my children’s years growing up thus far, one of the enduring memories I have is reading to them. We have devoured the Narnia series, the Little House series, Anne of Green Gables, and Little Women out loud, twice, once for each girl. Huddling under the covers and sharing Anne’s adventures bonded us in a very unique way. And yet how often today, when Katie wants to launch into Jane Austen, do I sigh and wish she would just leave me alone so I could get something important done?

Busyness causes us to care less about the things we care about. If I start to see those I love as intruding on my life, there’s something really wrong. Something in my life is truly stinking, and I better deal with it before I lose what is most precious.

And now I’d like to invite you to use my FREE personal time planners to get your own busy-ness under control–and make sure you’re focusing on your true priorities! I also include kids’ chore sheets, household organization planners, and more!

Sheila Wray Gregoire is the author of four books, including To Love, Honor and Vacuum: When you feel more like a maid than a wife and a mother. She blogs at http://tolovehonorandvacuum.blogspot.com

Article Source: http://www.wahm-articles.com

Everyone has a different opinion of what is good. What one person considers good may not suit the next person in line. Especially is this seen in the area of cuisine. For example, one man’s broccoli is another man’s apple fritter. The problem comes when the broccoli man insists that the apple fritter man try his broccoli. This has been the number one cause of wars since time immemorial.

Now, when it comes to me, I like cheese. Any kind and all kinds of cheese are on my menu. One of the main features about cheese that I appreciate the most is it has no expiration date. The older the cheese, the better it tastes.

To be quite honest about this whole thing, I must confess that this is not the presiding opinion in my house. The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage has her opinion about cheese and it does in no way shape or form resembles the opinion of Yours Truly. In fact, you could say we are at the opposite ends of this subject.

Oh sure, I could eat cheese every day for every meal and end the day with a nice snack of cheese and crackers. But out of respect to You Know Who, I fall in line with the acceptable routine of our house.

There are those times when visiting the supermarket I stand in front of the cheese counter with an envious drool dripping off my chin. I especially love it when they have a little booth with cheese samples. More than once I have been told that I had had enough only to sneak around the aisle for just one more sample. After all, you cannot get enough cheese.

I am not a stingy person. I honestly would give anybody the shirt off my back. Just do not ask for my cheese. There is something personal and sacred about a person’s cheese.

I put before my wife very simple proposal. I will buy the cheese and she does not have to eat any of it. In fact, I would prefer that she ate none of it and left it all for me. But she opposes this proposal by telling me that cheese stinks. Whoever heard of such a thing?

“I cannot stand the smell of cheese,” she complained to me.

To which I responded by saying, “Then don’t put it up your nose.”

I would like to tell you her response but as this is a public forum, it is unprintable. Let it be known far and wide that I have only made that remark once and I am still living to regret it. I’m just grateful I am still living.

Everything was going all right until recently. I was managing my appetite for cheese quite well and was quite proud of myself. I had gone 13 days without cheese and one more day would have made two weeks. A world record in anybody’s book.

I was so proud of myself that I decided to celebrate. And how best can a person celebrate than by indulging in some exotic cheese. I guess I did not know what I was doing.

I went to the supermarket and bought some of my favorite cheese. The aroma was exhilarating and I soon was on a cheese high. I got into my car and halfway home it dawned on me. I was in serious trouble. I was not thinking of the consequences when I bought this little block of cheese. Now a cooler mind was engaged and I had to find some way around it.

I was still pondering this as I was driving up into my driveway and noticed that my wife’s car was not there. I had lucked out. My plan was now to sneak the cheese into the house so my wife could not find it.

The whole plan excited me in ways I cannot explain. Who said you couldn’t have your cheese and eat it too? My problem now was to find a place to hide the cheese that she would not discover. Much to my delight I secreted the cheese in what I thought was a safe place.

All went well until 2:25 in the morning. I awoke from a sound sleep with a burning desire for a little snippet of my cheese. I lay there for a few moments thinking about that cheese until I could resist no longer.

I got out of my bed as quietly as possible and tiptoed out to the kitchen area to retrieve my hoarded block of cheese. Heaven does not get any better than this.

To my chagrin, the cheese was gone. I searched everywhere and came up cheeseless.

With a heavy heart, I went back to the bedroom and quietly got under the covers and lay there thinking about my cheese. Then I heard a stir from the other side of the bed. Finally, I heard a familiar voice, “You weren’t looking for cheese were you?”

It is hard to lie in bed when you are lying in bed.

A verse from the Bible came to my rescue. “Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding” (Proverbs 17:28).

The better plan is to keep your mouth shut and have people wonder if you are a wise man then open your mouth and dispel all doubt.

The Rev. James L. Snyder is pastor of the Family of God Fellowship, 1471 Pine Road, Ocala, FL 34472. He lives with his wife, Martha, in Silver Springs Shores. Call him at 352-687-4240 or e-mail jamessnyder2@att.net. The church web site is www.whatafellowship.com.

Picture yourself driving down the road in your car. You’ve got so many things to focus on at once. Kids in your car. Other drivers on the road. Your rear view mirror. Your side view mirrors. The speedometer, the gas gauge, the check engine light. The traffic lights. Road signs. Your destination. If you’re unfamiliar with the territory you’ve got to get in the right lane for the right exit. Feeling anxious at the thoughts? For most of us, driving is not a stressful experience. We’ve learned to juggle everything that needs our attention so we can successfully and safely drive our cars from point A to point B.

Running your business is a little like driving a car. At times it might seem hectic and overwhelming, especially for new business owners, but just give yourself some time and you’ll find your groove. Once you get your systems down it gets easier.

Let’s take this little car metaphor and apply it to your business focus. There are twelve “focus checkers” listed below.

Where did you begin your journey?

Take a few moments to remember where you began. When did you start your business? Why did you start your business? What was your dream?

What are you driving in? Got your bumper stickers?

The car we drive makes a statement. So must our businesses! Your business has got to have it’s brand. It should be recognizable and plastered everywhere. Bumper stickers, door magnets, window clings. Build your brand and then surround yourself with it.

Who else is in your car?

Sometimes we forget that in building a business we’re not the only ones affected. Our spouses and our children are in this ride along with us. Remember them. Take time to stop and evaluate the way the business is affecting your family. Make changes if you need to. The journey should be fun and rewarding for everyone involved.

Are you wearing your seat belt? Carrying proper insurance?

Do you have a safety plan for your business? Just knowing what will happen when you’re sick or have a family emergency can relieve stress in your day to day operations. Even if your back up plan is as simple as finding out how to setup an auto-responder for incoming email to let people know you’ll be out of the office for a day or two, put some sort of plan together. Then put it in writing so someone else can care of this for you if you have an emergency situation.

Checking the rear view mirror?

Where have you been? Evaluate your last year. Did your business grow? Did it grow in the direction you wanted it to? Or did it overwhelm you? Look at what you did right. Look at what you wish you could change. Consider it all a learning experience and allow it to help you guide your business in the coming year.

Looking at your side mirrors?

Who else is on the road you’re on? Who are your surrounding yourself with? Be careful who your friends are. You need to surround yourself with people who will inspire and encourage you!

Do you have gas in your car?

Is the gas tank full? Or is it empty? When was the last time you took a few minutes for you. Just for you. Every day you need time to recharge. You cannot give what you do not have. All work at home parents understand the “running on empty” feeling. I encourage you to plan time into your day, even if it’s only 5 minutes, to step back and relax. Be thankful. Appreciate the good things in your life. And focus on one day at a time.

Check your speedometer!

Working from home can take over your life. It can become a 24/7 obsession. Stop. Yes, it’s great to be passionate about your business. But remember who else is in that car and if you need to slow down, then slow down. Of course on the opposite end, if you’re not moving, then get that car moving! No one else is going to build your business for you if you aren’t working.

Is your check engine light on?

Have you heard the saying, “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail?” If your businesses doesn’t have a solid plan behind it, it’s going to sputter, it’s going to choke, and it’s going to be a constant struggle. It doesn’t have to be! Check what’s “under the hood” of your business. Get a business plan together. It doesn’t have to be long or complicated.

The traffic lights are everywhere.

Stay open to the signs around you. To grow your business and be successful you need to be in tune with the stop, go, and wait signals. There are times it’s important to slow down. Other times you may see a new market or a need of your niche that you can pursue. Don’t be afraid to go when it’s green!

Watch the road signs along the way.

Do you know what road signs you are looking for? You need measurable goals. Not just “I need to survive until next month.” You need to THRIVE, not just survive. Write down one goal for your business or personal/family life this month. Make it realistic. That’s the road sign you’re watching for next.

Are you at your destination?

I encourage you to rethink this concept completely. Life is not in reaching the destination, it’s in the journey. Your business should be something that you are passionate about and that you enjoy. So focus on your journey. One step at a time. Breathe.

Michelle Shaeffer, The Small Business Muse, publishes The Muses Brainstorm, a weekly ezine with tips to help you balance, manage, and market your home based business. With your subscription you’ll also receive access to free gifts including 101+ Free/Cheap Ways to Market Your Business, 119 Things You Can Outsource, and more. If you’re ready for inspirational guidance and bright ideas sign up free at http://www.thesmallbusinessmuse.com.

Article Source: http://www.wahm-articles.com

This is my first Father’s Day to celebrate without my father. Earlier this year he passed away after a long battle with heart and lung disease. It will be a rather somber day for me this year, but I carry in my heart all those things we shared while he was alive.

My father taught me many things especially when I was young. He taught me how to ride a bicycle, hunt and fish and then how to drive a car. All those things the person carries with him the rest of his life.

I am reminded of what Mark Twain said about his father. “When I was a boy of 14, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be 21, I was astonished at how much the old man had learned in seven years.” That sums up every person’s experience with his or her father. Most people do not appreciate their father until after he is gone. Then they remember all of the things that are a part of their life that came from their father. That is a shame.

I remember when my father gave me the old traditional father and son “birds and bees” talk. It went something like this. My father sat down with me on the back porch and said, “I guess I need to have a little talk with you…” then there was a long period of awkward silence… “about the birds and the bees.”

I prepared myself for a very long lecture and in the back of my mind I was wondering if the old man knew as much as I did about the “birds and the bees.” When you are 16, there is not anything that you do not know. I was more than willing to share with him my expertise in this area of human activity.

Father cleared his throat and then said, “The birds and the bees is something you need to know about. The one will peck you to death and the other will sting you to death. My advice is stay away from both and you’ll have a happy life.” With that, he got up and went back to doing whatever he was doing. I never did get around to thanking him for that piece of advice. It took me years to understand it.

In thinking back on my father, there were a few things I wish he had told me.

For example, it would have been nice if he had told me that women are not men. I did find this out on my own after some time. This has nothing to do with biology but everything to do with psychology. He could have warned me that at least once a month women are psycho. Men have no idea what is going on and every month it returns like a bad penny.

I also would have liked to have known that an argument is not won the day of the argument. Men have the idea that you speak your mind and then let bygones be bygones. Women, especially wives, have no concept of letting bygones be bygones. My father should have told me that no man could ever win any argument with a woman. The sweetest and most powerful two words in all of the English language is, “Yes, dear.”

Something else I had to learn the hard way and I wish my father had told me about it. Never surprise your wife with an expensive gift for no reason. Suspicion is a hard thing to dispel. You think you are doing something nice and spontaneous and she thinks you have done something naughty and suspicious.

My father could have saved me a lot of grief if he would have told me never to ask your wife, “How’s your day been?” When you do interject such a query, your wife will give you a minute-by-minute, conversation by conversation account of her entire day, and please, do not interrupt her. Any man who can keep up with that should be given the Nobel Peace Prize.

Another thing that would have been helpful if my father would have explained to me is that anything cute and comes as a bundle of joy will cost a fortune and keep on costing for the rest of your life. These “bundles of joy” look so cute in the hospital but after you bring them home the real cost begins. If we are going to have comprehensive health insurance, it should include the expenses of raising these babies after we bring them home from the hospital.

Then there is shopping. Oh my soul, it would have been so beneficial if my father could have sat down and explained to me the concept of shopping from a woman’s point of view. Shopping is an art no man can really aspire to. I cannot tell you how much it has cost me for my wife to save $3.99.

I guess my father did the best he could. That reminds me of my Heavenly Father. “If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?” (Matthew 7:11 KJV).

In celebrating Father’s Day, let us not forget to thank our Heavenly Father for all his good gifts usward.

The Rev. James L. Snyder is pastor of the Family of God Fellowship, 1471 Pine Road, Ocala, FL 34472. He lives with his wife, Martha, in Silver Springs Shores. Call him at 352-687-4240 or e-mail jamessnyder2@att.net. The church web site is www.whatafellowship.com.

You might be familiar with the layouts of resumes for job positions that are done in brick and mortar buildings. Telecommuting job resume layouts are much the same as the others, but there are some things that should be done differently.  The focus should take on a slightly different path.

Jobs that are done in brick and mortar buildings focus a lot on your skills, education and experiences in previous positions. Telecommuting jobs are the same, but they also need to show that you are capable of working from a home office- away from the main company.

Also, on the site jobs generally have less applicants, so an employer can read through each resume they receive. Telecommuting positions can be quite popular, so most employers don’t have time to go through the hundreds they usually receive. In this case, your resume will need to stand out so that it has a higher chance of getting noticed.

When developing a resume for your telecommuting position, keep these things in mind:

Focus your experiences or skills on what pertains to the job you’re applying for- If you’re looking to apply to a virtual assistant position, then focus all your previous job positions or skills that relate to that, such as office assistant etc. Leave out anything that doesn’t pertain to the position, like babysitting.

Don’t forget to include jobs that include experience working from home- If any of your previous positions allowed you to work from your home office, even for a couple of days a week, then include it. Let your employers know that you have some experience working away from the main office.

Computer skills- Be sure to include your computer skills. Virtual assistants use various types of software programs, so let your prospective employer know what programs you can use efficiently. If you’re certified in any program that you might need to use on the job, let them know.

Typing or Data entry speed- If you’re applying to a position where there’s a lot of typing or data entry involved, then be sure to let your prospective employer know what you’re current typing speed or Data entry speed is. You can go online to test yourself if you’re not quite sure what they are.

Have two different types of resumes- Most people use word to type their resume into. That’s great for attaching to emails and sending off to the hiring managers. But, you should also have an ASCII text resume to paste into the body of the email. Some companies won’t open attachments for fear of viruses and some attachments accidentally get deleted. Having your resume properly formatted in the body of the email eliminates that problem.

When compiling your information to put into your resumes, be sure to place the items that grab attention first and work your way down. If your educational background is stronger than your work experience, then start off with your education entries. Once their attention is grabbed, they’ll want to read on to the rest of what the resume contains.

So, take your old resume for onsite jobs out and look it over. What can you do to spice it up and help land you the telecommuting position you’re hoping to land?

Nell Taliercio has been working at home full time since 2004. She’s worked as a telecommuter, virtual assistant and affiliate marketer. In 5 years she’s discovered many secrets to finding legitimate work at home jobs and securing them. You can find work at home job information and tips at: http://www.justonlinejobs.com

Article Source: http://www.wahm-articles.com

Affiliate Marketers make their money by selling other people’s products or services. These affiliate programs allow them to earn commissions based on the sales generated through the affiliate marketer’s special link. In some cases, they can earn money by getting people to sign-up to a special list or offer that the affiliate company provides.

These programs can be good income generators, provided you put in the work necessary to make your commissions. There are numerous affiliate marketing opportunities out there for anyone to choose from and each one offers differing monetary rewards for the commissions. The problem is, that not all of those opportunities are legitimate ones. Yes, the annoying scammers have gotten to this part of the internet too.

So, as an aspiring Affiliate Marketer, what can you do to avoid falling into one of these Affiliate Marketing traps? Here are some things to look for when deciding on one of those opportunities:

Website

Take a thorough look at the website of the product, that you’re considering taking on in your affiliate marketing business. The website should contain a decent amount of information about the product you would be taking on. It should also provide good information on the affiliate program that they are offering. Make sure that the site has contact information in case you need to ask questions or get support.

Any website, offering affiliate programs, that have no contact information is not worth your time. If you can’t get a hold of them when you need to, how can you be sure you’ll get the money due to you. Also, if the site has more information on how much money you could make from their program and less on what the product is and does; then it’s not likely the program is legit.

Research

As with anything on the internet, you should be doing your research to determine if the program is on the up and up. Look to see if anyone else might have used that program and find out what their experience was. Also, look for information about the company, if any is available, to see if they seem legit.

Don’t Pay

Legitimate programs will not charge you to sign-up with them to sell their products. There are some cases where you may be paying for other items, like their magazines, special software or some other type of service. But, as far as signing up to simply market and sell their items, there shouldn’t be any charge for you.

Affiliate Marketing is a legitimate business opportunity. You’ll just have to sort through a lot of programs to make sure you’re signing up for one that won’t scam you. Take your time and thoroughly research the programs that interest you and you should be able to avoid some scams that could cost you a lot of money in the long run.

Nell Taliercio has been working at home full time since 2004. She’s worked as a telecommuter, virtual assistant and affiliate marketer. In 5 years she’s discovered many secrets to finding legitimate work at home jobs and securing them. You can find work at home job information and tips at: http://www.justonlinejobs.com

Article Source: http://www.wahm-articles.com

Anybody who would casually investigate the background of Yours Truly would undeniably discover that I have no charges pending accusing me of being a handyman. In fact, quite the reverse would be revealed. I do not apologize for this deficit in my character; I am just setting the record straight.

I think it important that a person comes to terms with himself or herself, as the case may be. When a person honestly evaluates himself, it has the effect of keeping him out of trouble. Believe me, I am all for whatever keeps me out of trouble. It is not so much knowing what you can do as knowing what you cannot do that makes life what it really is.

That being said let me inform my public that in no way shape or form could I be mistaken for a handyman. In fact, the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage has often said about me even in my presence, “He’s one hand short of a handyman.” I do not know exactly what she means by that and furthermore, I have never questioned her on the subject. The reason I do not question her is that I am afraid she will give me a straightforward answer. That is just the kind of person she is. Moreover, I think some things are better left unanswered.

I am not saying it is bad in our house but the other day my wife came home and found me with a hammer in my hand and she all but went into hysterics. “What are you doing?” she said breathlessly.

I looked at her, she looked at the hammer in my hand and then looked at me and said, “Okay, let’s not panic here. Just put the hammer down and nobody will get hurt.”

I was greatly relieved because it is usually me on the hurting side of any hammer I pick up, and I have the scars to prove it.

If anybody wants a nail pounded into the wall, do not call me. If, however, you want a nice hole in your wall next to where the nail was supposed to be, give me a call for that is exactly what I do.

Not only am I deficient on the handyman side of the ledger but I have no idea which tool is which or what any of them are for. Put me in a workshop and I immediately go into a panic. Not only am I lost in the workshop but also I never know which door is which to get me out. I must confess when it comes to tools I am bewitched.

I am a firm believer in that age-old theory that says opposites attract. For what I lack in the handyman department, my wife is abundantly blessed. Not only can she identify every tool in her workshop, but she knows exactly what each and every one of them are for.

You might have noticed something subtle there. I said “her workshop.” Her workshop is in the garage and the garage is off-limits to me. Actually, I prefer it that way.

If I come home and cannot find her in the house, I can always find her in her workshop fiddling, or whatever she does, with those tools. According to her, and I take her word on this one, she has tools for every possibility you could think of. I never appreciated this until a recent incident in our home.

My study is filled with some very old and decrepit bookcases home to my large library. In recent months, I noticed that they were beginning to sag and threatening to give way. It was then I decided to have built-in bookcases all the way around the walls in my study. We contracted a carpenter, made all the arrangements, and set the whole project in motion.

My job, as you can imagine, was to write the check, whereas, my wife’s job was to supervise the entire project. Everything was going fine until some holes were needed to be cut in the side of one of the shelves. The carpenter said, “I can’t make that cut because I don’t have the right tool for it.”

My heart sank; I had no idea what to do at this point. Fortunately, my wife was not so lost and said to the carpenter, “What tool do you need?”

Obviously, he did not know whom he was talking to and mumbled something and said, “I’m sure you don’t have any such tool here.”

With sternness in her voice I had heard on numerous occasions, she asked him, “What tool do you need?” He explained it to her and much to his surprise she said, “I have that tool out in my workshop.” She disappeared and in a few moments returned with the exact tool the carpenter needed.

A long time ago, I learned this valuable lesson; a husband is a fool who underestimates his wife.

Another lesson I have come to learn and appreciate and that is simply a person is a fool who underestimates the grace and faithfulness of God. I take seriously what the Bible says. “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Hebrews 13:5).

God’s grace is never short in any department of life. Whatever I lack He abundantly supplies.

The Rev. James L. Snyder is pastor of the Family of God Fellowship, 1471 Pine Road, Ocala, FL 34472. He lives with his wife, Martha, in Silver Springs Shores. Call him at 352-687-4240 or e-mail jamessnyder2@att.net. The church web site is www.whatafellowship.com.